Linfield 'best' and 'worst' but Isaac Baird happy 'every one counts' on progress path
Two-goal hero Isaac Baird had his big brace described by Linfield manager David Healy as both “the best” and “the worst” following Tuesday’s 4-1 road win to sink Dungannon Swifts.
Few know more in Northern Ireland about the art of finding the net than our international record goalscorer Healy – with summer signing Baird happy to hear all advice from the Blues boss.
"The Gaffer (Healy) just says it's the worst two goals he's seen in his life but the best two...because they were so scrappy,” said Baird in his post-match interview on the official Linfield social media platforms. "They just fell to me and I just thought 'you know what, might as well put my foot through it and hope for the best'.
"Thankfully they went in...every one counts and that's why I want to play, I want to score more goals.
"The Gaffer's been challenging me to score more so, thankfully, I've got two tonight."
Baird is rebuilding his minutes and momentum after early praise following a Mid-Ulster derby switch from the books at Portadown to Glenavon before injury woe.
But continued gains at the defending Irish League champions on and off the field have left Baird looking forward with optimism.
"It's been good so far, I've really enjoyed it...the Gaffer (David Healy) is playing me, which is nice and shows trust because I was out all last year,” said Baird, with Matthew Fitzpatrick and Kyle McClean the other Linfield scorers then Gael Bigirimana netting Dungannon’s consolation at Stangmore Park. "And then the boys too have been great.
"I travel up with Dane (McCullough), ‘Walshy’ (David Walsh), Jon (Graham) and Ethan (McGee), so they've helped me settle in.
"It's been good having them too and then knowing 'Fitzy' (Matthew Fitzpatrick).
"To be fair, that changing room is brilliant, everybody's 100 per cent which makes it far easier coming in as a new person.”
Now the focus turns to Linfield’s weekend ‘Big Two’ derby date at home to Glentoran.
"It's a derby, it's massive...there's massive pressure on it, we have to win it,” said Baird. "We have to be able to replicate that performance (against Dungannon) and go again, even bigger.